Circuit interrupter



Nov. 2 1926.

H. R. MEYER ET AL CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed Oct. 6, 1919 ENVENTORS Harry RMeyer 3 Lynn G. Riley.

f ATTORNEY WITNESSES: %4@ f Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIEE.

HARRY n. MEYER. AND LYNN G. RILEY, on'WILKINsBUnG, PENNSYLVANIA, As

SIGNORS T0 wns'rrNeHoUsn ELECTRIC & M NUFACTURING coMrANY, A con- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Application filed October 6, 1919- Serial No. 328,838.

Our invention relates to circuit interrupters and particularly to latching means for interrupter-s of the railway or enclosed arcextinguishing type. i

One object of our invention is to provide a circuit interrupter of the above indicated character that shall be adapted to be tripped either automatically or by the movement of its operatinghandle.

Another object of our invention is to provide a latching mechanism for a circuit interrupter of the above indicated character that shall be compact in structure, economical to manufacture, readily adjustable and reliable in its operation.

Figure 1, of the accompanying drawings, is a plan view, with the cover removed, of a circuit interrupter embodying our invention, and'Fig. 2 is an end view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the interrupter shown in Fig. 1.

An enclosing housing 1 is provided with a plurality of apertured lugs 2, extending laterally from its base, for the purpose of fa cilitating the mounting ofthe same on the ceiling or beneath the floor of a railway vehicle. A cover member 3 is provided for the housing- 1, and a plurality of internal lugs 4 are provided for supporting the in terrupter mechanism.

A plate 5, constructed of insulating material, is secured by screws 6 to the lugs 4 and has mounted thereon a stationary terminal member 7, an electromagnet 8, a pivotallymounted operating member 9, a pivotally-- mounted movable member 10, a latching device 11 and a calibrating device 12. The operating lever 9 is pivotally mounted on a post 13, upon which is also mounted the movable member 10, and has a contact-carrying member 14 pivotally connected thereto.

The calibrating device 12 consists of a knurled nut 38 secured to a screw 37 that has threaded engagement with a bushing 38*. and is locked in position by a nut 38".

A stationary contact finger 15 is secured to the stationary contact terminal 7, and a contact finger 16 is secured to the contactcarrying member 14. A tension spring 17 is operatively connected between a stationary member 18 and the movable member 10, and a compression spring 19 is disposed between the contact-carrying member 14 and the movable member 10. A tension spring 20 is disposed between an arm 21 that projects from the lever arm 9 and a projection 22 on the latching device 11. This spring is al ways under tension and serves'to maintain the latch in operative relation to the member 10 and the handle 9.

The movable member 10 is so constructed that, when the lever arm 9 is turned in a clockwise direction, it engages a portion 23 or the movable member 10, thereby moving the same to tension the spring 17, and compresses the spring 19. Thus, when the mov able member 10 is actuated, the movable contact member 16 engages the stationary conthe contact members are in engagement, the

member 24 will assume substantially the po sition shown in the drawings.

The electromagnet 8 comprises a magnetizablc core member 28, a pivotally mounted armature 29, and a winding 30, one terminal of which is operatively connectedto the contact-carrying member 14, and the other terminal oi? which connected to aconductor 31 that is adapted to pass through a bushing 32 in the housing 1. A similar bushing 33 is provided for a conductor 34 that is connected to the stationary contact terminal 7.

A bell-crank lever 35 is operatively connected to the armatmie 29 or" the electromagnet 8 and is connected, at one end, to a spring 36, The latter is operatively connected, at its other end, to one end of a screw-threaded member 37 having a nut 38, by which the tension of the spring may be adjusted and, consequently, the value of current necessary to traverse the Winding 26 of the electromagnet 8 to cause the armature 29 to operate is determined.

A lip or projecting member 39 on the armature 29, is adapted to engage one end of a rod 40 that is slidably mounted in a bearing member 41 that may be secured to the core member 28 or be otherwise suitably supported. The other end of the rod 40 fits loosely in one end of an exteriorly-threaded member or nut 42 of substantially cup-shape disposed in the portion 2'? 01 the latching device.

The rod 40 is of composite structure, comprising a tubular insulating intermediate member 43 of fiber or other suitable ma terial and similar metal end members 44. Each member 4 1 comprises a portion 45 titted into an end oi the member 43, a shoulder 46 engaging the end of the member 13, and an outward]y-projecting portion 47. \Vhen actuated by the armature 29, the rod 40 moves the member 24 in a counter-clockwise direction for the purpose of releasing the member 10 and, consequently, the movable contact member 16. A pin 48 is mounted on the operating lever arm 9, adjacent to the member 2a, and is adapted to move the latter in a counter-clockwise direction when the lever arm 9 is moved in a similar direction. Thus, the interrupter may be tripped, either automatically at a predetermined overload or manually by a relatively small moven'ient ot the operating lever 9.

\Vhen it is desired to manually trip the intei'ru 'iter. the lever arm 9 is moved a relatively short distance in a counter-cloclnvise direction so that the pin 48 will move the member 24: out of engagement with the movable member 10, and the spring 17 Will quickly turn the member 10 about the post 13, and, in co-operation with the spring 19, will cause the movable contact member 16 to quickly disengage the stationary contact member 15 with a desirable sliding motion. lVhen a sufliciently large overload traverses the device to cause the armature 29 t0 opcrate against the action of the spring 36, the rod 40 will be actuated to cause the movement of the member 24 in a counter-clockwise direction and the disengagement of the contact members 15 and 16, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

WVe do not limit our invention to the particular structure set forth, as it may be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

\Ve claim as our invention:

1. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with a movable contact member, a. latch "for holding the contact member, and means for operating the latch, of means for operatively connecting the operating means and the latch comprising an adjustable member of substantially cup-shape operatively connected to the latch, and a rod extending into the adjustable member and operatively en gaging the operating means.

2; In a circuit interrupter, the combination with a movable contact member, a latch for holding the contact member, and means for operating the latch, of means for operatively connecting the operating means and the latch comprising an adjustable member of substantially cup-shape operatively c0nnected to the latch, and a tubular rod having inserts at its ends, one of which extends into the adjustable member and the other operatively engages the operating means.

3. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with a movable contact member, a latch for holding the contact member, and means for operating the latch, of means for operatively connecting the operating means and the latch comprising an adjustable member of substantially cup-shape operatively connected to the latch, and a tubular rod of insulating material having metal inserts at its ends, one of which extends into the adjustable member and the other operatively engages the operating means.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 30th day of Sept, 1919.

HARRY R. MEYER. LYNN G. RILEY. 

